--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The character of a child is formed…" description: "\"The character of a child is formed largely during the first twelve years of his life. He spends 16 times as many waking hours in the home as in the sch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/david-o-mckay-2062_best-place_the-character-of-a-child-is-formed-large_1300182.jpg" --- # The character of a child is formed largely during the… ![“The character of a child is formed largely during the first twelve years of his life. He spends 16 times as many waking hours in the home as in the school, and 126 times as many hours in the home as in the church. Each child is, to a great degree, what he is because of the ever-constant influence…” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/david-o-mckay-2062_best-place_the-character-of-a-child-is-formed-large_1300182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/david-o-mckay-2062_best-place_the-character-of-a-child-is-formed-large_1300182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/david-o-mckay-2062_best-place_the-character-of-a-child-is-formed-large_1300182.jpg) > “The character of a child is formed largely during the first twelve years of his life. He spends 16 times as many waking hours in the home as in the school, and 126 times as many hours in the home as in the church. Each child is, to a great degree, what he is because of the ever-constant influence of home environment and the careful or neglectful training of parents. Home is the best place for the child to learn self-control, to learn that he must submerge himself for the good of another. It is the best place in which to develop obedience, which nature and society will later demand.” [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child's character is shaped mainly by early home life, where parental influence teaches self‑control and obedience. **In simple terms:** Early home environment largely determines a child's character. Key Takeaway Focus on nurturing positive home influences. Themes family development obedience Mood concerned hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - education - community programs - childcare - social services Key Concepts psychology child development Questions to Reflect On - How can parents balance guidance with freedom? - What role do schools play in character formation? A Different Perspective Children also learn from schools and peers, not just home. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-environment/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-home/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [The mind of the child is not formed. We are shown that this is life, this is the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-mind-of-the-child-is-not-formed-we-are-shown-that-this-is-life/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I was hugely formed by stories I was told as a child whether that was in a book, the cinema, theatre or television and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/i-was-hugely-formed-by-stories-i-was-told-as-a-child-whether-that-was/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [The proper time to influence the character of a child is about a hundred years before he is born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-proper-time-to-influence-the-character-of-a-child-is-about-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think my dad understood my character as a child growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bez/i-don-t-think-my-dad-understood-my-character-as-a-child-growing-up/) [Bez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bez/) > [The distinctive character of a child is to always live in the tangible present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-distinctive-character-of-a-child-is-to-always-live-in-the/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [No artist work is so high, so noble, so grand, so enduring, so important for all time, as the making of character is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-saunders-cushman/no-artist-work-is-so-high-so-noble-so-grand-so-enduring-so-important/) [Charlotte Saunders Cushman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-saunders-cushman/) > [So far as I have myself observed, the distinctive character of a child is to live always in the tangible present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/so-far-as-i-have-myself-observed-the-distinctive-character-of-a-child/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [My family moved to Israel when I was eight until I was 10, and then we came back, and my parents split up. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/my-family-moved-to-israel-when-i-was-eight-until-i-was-10-and-then-we/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [I haven’t come from the typical path or background of someone who would make it to this level as a ballerina. When it came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-haven-t-come-from-the-typical-path-or-background-of-someone-who/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [She who cultivates virtue in her parents' home, shall obtain a home at her in-laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-guru-granth-sahib/she-who-cultivates-virtue-in-her-parents-home-shall-obtain-a-home-at/) [Sri Guru Granth Sahib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-guru-granth-sahib/) > [When you look at the biggest study of the American dream, the number-one correlate for upward mobility is having two parents in a home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-marche/when-you-look-at-the-biggest-study-of-the-american-dream-the-number/) [Stephen Marche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-marche/) > [My parents homeschooled my sister and me for many years. Why? Because the local school insisted that I, being three, should go to preschool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/my-parents-homeschooled-my-sister-and-me-for-many-years-why-because/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I do go back to Russia frequently, about twice a year. I hate the flight, but it's worth it. My parents have a home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olesya-rulin/i-do-go-back-to-russia-frequently-about-twice-a-year-i-hate-the/) [Olesya Rulin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olesya-rulin/) > [“The great irony of growing up is that it’s often once you leave your parents’ home that you understand them the most. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scaachi-koul/the-great-irony-of-growing-up-is-that-it-s-often-once-you-leave-your/) [Scaachi Koul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scaachi-koul/) > [Good, honest, hardheaded character is a function of the home. If the proper seed is sown there and properly nourished for a few years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-amos-dorsey/good-honest-hardheaded-character-is-a-function-of-the-home-if-the/) [George Amos Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-amos-dorsey/) ## More by David O. McKay > [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. 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McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“No thing worth while is obtained in this life without sacrificing, without putting forth effort. The evil one thrusts things upon us but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-thing-worth-while-is-obtained-in-this-life-without-sacrificing/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-most-powerful-thing-in-the-world-is-an-idea/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/he-who-harbors-hatred-and-bitterness-injures-himself-far-more-than/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. 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McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) [Explore all 188 David O. McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More Best place quotes > [Appeal to all scholars of stupidity in the world. Come to Italy, this country has the highest rate of morons of the universe, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/appeal-to-all-scholars-of-stupidity-in-the-world-come-to-italy-this/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [Americans are curious about the texture of everyday life in the Middle East because they rarely get to see it. I wanted readers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/americans-are-curious-about-the-texture-of-everyday-life-in-the/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [I live my life. And the best place to do that is Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-live-my-life-and-the-best-place-to-do-that-is-chicago/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [DAY: I have a good job, a lovely apartment, I go out with very nice men to the best places, the finest restaurants, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-day/day-i-have-a-good-job-a-lovely-apartment-i-go-out-with-very-nice-men/) [Doris Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-day/) > [The election makes me think of a story of a man who was dying. He had only two minutes to live, so he sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-election-makes-me-think-of-a-story-of-a-man-who-was-dying-he-had/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [With every failure, every crisis, every difficult time, I say - What is this here to teach me? And as soon as you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/with-every-failure-every-crisis-every-difficult-time-i-say-what-is/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Best place to be?" Adrienne asks after a moment. On the other side of this wall. In my bed, at home. Anywhere with Nathaniel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/best-place-to-be-adrienne-asks-after-a-moment-on-the-other-side-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The past is so reliable, so delightful and the best place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-past-is-so-reliable-so-delightful-and-the-best-place-to-live/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/that-man-over-there-says-that-women-need-to-be-helped-into-carriages/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Having gone through editing process, I can see that in actor's faces there's point where they're not managing their performance and that's, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/having-gone-through-editing-process-i-can-see-that-in-actor-s-faces/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [Da world's a best place bcoz of folk like u Who take da time 2 do nice thingz Da way u alwayz do. Thank You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/da-world-s-a-best-place-bcoz-of-folk-like-u-who-take-da-time-2-do/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [This is the theater. And this is the best place for the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/this-is-the-theater-and-this-is-the-best-place-for-the-imagination/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [Until we fully understand what turned two brothers who allegedly perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings into murderers, it is hard to make any policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/until-we-fully-understand-what-turned-two-brothers-who-allegedly/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [It's very important where you live. Because where you live, the energies make it easier or more difficult to dream. In certain places dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-s-very-important-where-you-live-because-where-you-live-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think goodreads is the best place to look for books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/i-think-goodreads-is-the-best-place-to-look-for-books/) [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) Browse all 157 Best place quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The character of a child is formed largely during the first twelve years of his life. He spends 16 times as many waking hours in the home as in the school, and 126 times as many hours in the home as in the church. Each child is, to a great degree, what he is because of the ever-constant influence of home environment and the careful or neglectful training of parents. 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